Trevor Siemian appears to have the inside track for the Denver Broncos’ starting quarterback job, being named the starter for the all-important preseason Week 3 game.
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After struggling to find a rhythm amid a flurry of running play calls, Siemian finished the first half with two scoring drives that gave the Denver Broncos a 10-9 lead against the Los Angeles on a pleasant, late-August evening Saturday at soon-to-be-renamed Sports Authority Field at Mile High.
The Rams took a two field goal lead on the kicking of Greg Zuerlein to take a 6-0 lead before the Broncos drove 72 yards for a touchdown. On consecutive passes, Siemian hit first Thomas and then Sanders for first downs.
Importantly, however, and unlike last week, Siemian did not let the interception affect his play. I didn’t feel anything right away, ” Siemian said. We will see. I do know that Talib is going to be under a watchful eye. “A lot to build on and a few things to clean up”.
Siemian was more impressive than his stat line – 10 of 17 for 122 yards, one TD and one arguable interception – showing off his strong right arm and just the kind of patience, poise and precision required of Peyton Manning’s successor as Denver defends its Super Bowl title.
“I’m impressed”, Kubiak said of Siemian. He has control of what’s going on. I think he’s very confident in what he’s doing and I think he has confidence in us to do what he does best. Every timeout, working really hard, like they all have. I’ve got a lot of work to do.
Heading into Saturday’s contest, it was unclear who would be the first quarterback to relieve Siemian, but there was a growing feeling that it would be rookie Paxton Lynch.
Von looked explosive off the edge like the normally doesn, was consistently getting after Los Angeles Rams quarterback Case Keenum during the game. He, again, went against the Broncos’ first defensive team. With almost 1,300 total yards in only 13 games last season, the sky is the limit for the second-year back.
“I’m not reading too much into it, ” he said of his second straight start. “But we needed to see these other two kids play again”, Kubiak said.
That left Mark Sanchez as the odd man out on this night and, possibly, come cut-down day.
Sanchez is owed a $4.5 million salary that is non-guaranteed so the Broncos can release him without owing him a dollar.
Though these lists don’t determine how a team will do, ESPN gave the Broncos plenty of love when they unleashed the first half of their top 100 National Football League player rankings. “I’m always down to get tackled, so it doesn’t matter to me”.
That damnedest thing is that Siemian might actually work out for the Broncos. The Broncos had a replacement for Manning in Brock Osweiler on their team, but lost him in free agency to the Houston Texans.
On Saturday, Siemian, the player least expected take the reins just six months ago, capitalized and might have made the unthinkable a reality.
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Kubiak said on Thursday that he likes the progress made by Lynch. I told you guys that.
